LEWISTON — The first of three former Portland Metro buses transferred to the Twin Cities should debut in service Wednesday.

Phil Nadeau, chairman of the Lewiston-Auburn Transit Committee, said he is hopeful the second bus should begin its Lewiston-Auburn service within the next few days.

“This first bus passed muster pretty quickly,” Nadeau said. “It needed a minimum amount of decorative work. We replaced the blue strip on it with purple so people will get the idea. The second bus should be ready by Friday.”

Information on the third bus in the deal should be released next week.

“They are still assessing it and we won’t know much more until next week,” Nadeau said.

The Transit Committee agreed to purchase the 16-year-old buses from Greater Portland Metropolitan Transit District for the price of tires — roughly $6,000 for all three buses, plus the costs to add Citylink’s purple logo.

The buses should give Citylink operators a bit of breathing room after a series of maintenance problems sidelined most Citylink’s fleet. Citylink reduced service earlier this month, going from one hour round trips on most routes to two hours, due to lack of working buses.

Citylink has 10 buses in its fleet — enough to operate seven routes and shuttles downtown and around the Auburn Mall area Monday through Saturday.

Two are Thomas/SLF buses purchased in 2002; four are Blue Bird buses purchased in 2006; and three are Gillig buses purchased in 2011. The 10th is an El Dorado shuttle purchased in 2008.

Both Thomas/SLF buses were permanently removed from service last month due to problems with rust and corrosion and the Bluebird buses have been in and out of service for maintenance.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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